Knockdown carpenter&#39;s square.



J. L. NOBLE.

KNOGKDOWN GARPBNTEBS SQUARE.4 APPLIUATION :FILED una, 1910.

JAMES L. NOBLE, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

KNOCKDOWN CARPENTER/S SQUARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed May 3, 1910. Serial No. 559,147.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. NOBLE, citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Knockdown Carpenters Squares, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of squares of that type which are commonly employed by carpenters, mechanics, and the like, and the object of the invention is the provision of a square of this character embodying novel means whereby the two arms thereof can be taken apart and put together so as to occupy a comparatively small amount of space and be conveniently transported from place to place.

lThe invention further contemplates a folding square which is simple and durable in its construction, which can be quickly and. easily taken apart and assembled, and which will be perfectly rigid when in use.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated upon the accompanying sheet of drawing, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the arms of a square, the said arms being provided with the usual graduations 3 and being preferably constructed so as to taper in thickness from the meeting ends thereof to the free ends. The meeting end of the arm 1 is provided with a transversely disposed dovetail recess 4 adapted to receive a corresponding dovetail tongue 5 projecting from the meeting end of t-he arm 2. The side of this tongue 5 ad jacent the outer edge of the arm 2 is parallel thereto and beveled as indicated at while the opposite side of the tongue is inclined so as to impart a dovetail formation to the said tongue, both the end and inclined side of the tongue being square. It will also be observed that the side of the dovetail recess 4 adjacent the end of the arm 1 is parallel thereto and is undercut to receive the beveled side 6 of the tongue 5, the end of the recess and the inclined side thereof being square.

In order to connect the arm 2 to the arm 1, the said arm 2 is first turned about its longitudinal axis into a plane at a slight angle to the plane of the arm 1 and the beveled side 6 of the tongue 5 inserted in the undercut side of the recess 4. The arm 2 is then swung downwardly into the plane of the arm 1 so that the tongue 5 enters the recess 4, the dovetail formation of the said tongue serving to prevent the arm 2 from being pulled away from the arm 1.

A slide 7 is mounted in a recess 8 formed in the arm 1 and the dovetail tongue 5 and moves transversely with respect to the said tongue. The sides and end of this slide 7 are beveled and the sides and end of the recess 8 are undercut in a corresponding manner. It will also be observed that the ends of the slide are parallel to the inclined side of the dovetail tongue. When this slide 7 is moved into engagement with the tongue 5, as indicated in Fig. 1, the two arms of the square are securely locked together, since the arm 2 must be turned about its longitudinal axis before the tongue 5 can be removed from the recess 4, and the slide then prevents this turning of the arm 2. However," when the slide 7 is withdrawn from engagement with the tongue 5, the arm 2 can be turned in the required manner and the tongue 5 withdrawn from the recess 4 so as to separate the arms of the square.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A square comprising a pair of detachably connected arms, one of the arms being formed at one end thereof with a dove-tail recess one of the sides of which is parallel to the end of the arm and undercut, while the opposite side and end of the recess are at right angles to the face of the arm, the opposite arm being provided with a dovetail tongue corresponding in shape to the recess and having one side thereof beveled for engagement with the undercut side of the recess, and means for locking the dovetail tongue in engagement with the recess.

2. In a square, the combination of an arm provided at one end thereof with a dovetail recess, one of the sides of which is parallel to the end of the arm and undercut, while the opposite side and end of the recess are at right angles to the face of the arm, a second arm provided with a dovetail tongue corresponding to the before-mentioned recess, one side of the tongue being parallel to the sides of the second arm and being beveled for engagement with the undercut side of the recess, and a slide carried by the iirst- 'mentioned arm of the square and engaging the inclined side of the tongue for retaining the tongue in position within the recess.

3. In a square, the combination of an arm formed with a transversely-disposed dovetail recess, one of the sides of which is parallel to the end of the arm and undercut, while the opposite side and end of the recess are at right angles to the facie of the arm, the end of the recess being also disposed at right angles to the undercut side thereof, and a second arm formed at one end thereof with a dove-tail tongue adapted to be received within the said recess, one side of the tongue being parallel to the sides of the arm and beveled for engagement with the undercut side of the recess, the second arm being tilted laterally into a plane at an angle to the plane of the first-mentioned arm and the beveled side of the tongue being placed in engagement with the undercut side of the recess, after which the second arm is swung into the plane of the first-mentioned arm and the dove-tail tongue caused to engage the dove-tail recess when the arms are being connected, and means for locking the tongue in position within the recess.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES L. NOBLE.

Witnesses Jnssn L. DIBERT, A. P. STIEFYATER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

